Alexander de Kininmund (died 1344) was a 14th-century Scottish churchman. The first mention of Alexander occurs when, as a
canon of
Dunkeld he is one of three ambassadors sent by King
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...
to
Avignon
Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...
in 1320.
[Dowden, ''Bishops of Scotland'', p. 111.] The purpose of this embassy was to present a letter to
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII ( la, Ioannes PP. XXII; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334.
He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by ...
known as the
Declaration of Arbroath. As a papal chaplain and lawyer, he was well qualified to argue the Scottish cause, and Barrow makes a strong case that he was, in fact the author of the document.
Biography
He became
Archdeacon of Lothian
The Archdeacon of Lothian was the head of the Archdeaconry of Lothian, a sub-division of the Diocese of St Andrews. The position was one of the most important positions within the medieval Scottish church; because of his area's large population an ...
in 1327, and by 1329 held a
prebend
A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...
in the
diocese of Brechin
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brechin, also known as the Diocese of Angus, was one of the thirteen pre-Reformation dioceses of Scotland.
History
The diocese was believed to have been founded by Bishop Samson in 1153, and based at the cathedr ...
; he is also a papal
chaplain
A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a Minister (Christianity), minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a laity, lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secularity, secular institution (such as a hosp ...
and an
auditor of the papal palace at
Avignon
Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...
.
In that year, after the death of
Henry le Chen,
Walter Herok was elected
Bishop of Aberdeen and travelled to Avignon to receive consecration from
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII ( la, Ioannes PP. XXII; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334.
He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by ...
. However, Walter died there, apparently before receiving consecration and Alexander, a papal servant from Scotland, was provided to the now vacant see without any consultation of the chapter of Aberdeen.
Alexander was back in Scotland by 29 March 1330, when he attended a parliament of King
David II of Scotland.
[Dowden, ''Bishops of Scotland'', p. 111; Innes, ''Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis'', p. xxxviii.] Four years later, on 12 February 1334, he was present at the parliament of the usurper-king
Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol (; 1283 – January 1364) was a claimant to the Scottish throne during the Second War of Scottish Independence. With English help, he ruled parts of the kingdom from 1332 to 1356.
Early life
Edward was the eldest son of John Ba ...
.
[ In 1335 he was one of the envoys sent to make peace with England.][ According to Hector Boece, Alexander was a distinguished scholar and began work on building four new episcopal residences, at Mortlach, ]Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
, Fetternear and Rayne; Aberdeen and Fetterneir were said to have been completed. He died sometime before 13 September 1344.[Dowden, ''Bishops of Scotland'', p. 112; Watt, ''Fasti Ecclesiae'', p. 2.]
See also
Notes
References
* Dowden, John, ''The Bishops of Scotland'', ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
* Innes, Cosmo, ''Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis: Ecclesie Cathedralis Aberdonensis Regesta Que Extant in Unum Collecta'', Vol. 1, (Edinburgh, 1845)
* Keith, Robert, ''An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688'', (London, 1924)
* Watt, D.E.R., ''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638'', 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)
*Barrow, Geoffrey W. S., ''Robert Bruce and the Community of The Realm of Scotland'', (Edinburgh 1988)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kininmund, Alexander De
13th-century births
1344 deaths
Bishops of Aberdeen
14th-century Scottish Roman Catholic bishops
Ambassadors of Scotland to the Holy See
Scottish scholars and academics